Was Joo Young-hoon, who joined 'Mr. Trot 2 - The Beginning of a New Legend' as a master, aware of the controversy surrounding Jang Yun-jeong's student that recently arose? “The outcome cannot be determined by friendship. Among the participants involved in music activities, there is no one who does not have a connection with at least one of the masters. “I think this is an unavoidable situation arising from the area of activity, and not an issue of fairness,” he said.
Composer Joo Young-hoon, who created numerous hit songs, will fill the master seat starting from the first round of the final round of TV CHOSUN's 'Mr. Trot 2 - The Beginning of a New Legend', 'Team Mission by Genre'. Joo Young-hoon is expected to point out the participants' musicality in detail based on his rich emotions and sharp senses, and will be a strong supporter as a senior in music and a senior in life.
Accordingly, on the 10th, 'Mr. Trot 2 - The Beginning of a New Legend' released Joo Young-hoon's impressions of joining the master in a Q&A.
1. I joined the Miss/Mr. Trot audition series for the first time through ‘Mr. Trot 2’. Are there any unique features of this series that differentiate it from other auditions?
Our country has a culture so familiar with music that there is always one or two people in the neighborhood who are good at singing, and numerous audition programs have become so popular that it is no exaggeration to say that the entire population is already an expert in music and singing. In particular, 'Mr. Trot 2' feels like the national interest is very strong compared to other auditions because everyone directly witnessed the birth of a mega-star named 'Lim Young-woong' in the previous season. In addition, it is very hot because it reflects the expectations and expectations of viewers waiting for the birth of a new national singer after Lim Young-woong, but at the same time, there is a cautious side as a master.
2. In master evaluation, ‘fairness’ is considered the most important virtue. What efforts do you make as a master to achieve this?
I believe that the eyes of viewers are the standard that determines fairness. In particular, if it is a contest that the entire nation is watching, such as 'Mr. Trot 2', I would like to emphasize that the results cannot be influenced by the opinions of specific individuals or determined by personal relationships. Among this season's contestants who are active in music, there is no one who does not have a connection with at least one of the masters. I believe this is an unavoidable situation arising from the area of activity and not a matter of fairness. As a master, if I need to eliminate someone, I make the decision based on a valid reason and the ability to explain it in an understandable way.
3. What are your overall impressions after seeing the ‘Mr. Trot 2’ participants in the recent recording?
He's so good at it. In particular, it is surprising that among the former idol singers or young contestants, those who appeared in previous seasons or participated in other audition programs reappeared with marked improvement. In the past, when selecting singers, it was an established belief that people with good looks were relatively weak at singing, but this seems to have been broken after 'Mr. Trot'. The stereotypes I had about this area while working in the music industry so far were all shattered while watching 'Mr. Trot 2'. This time, I realized even more that people who have a strong will to pursue their dreams will overcome everything, regardless of appearance or circumstances, and achieve it.
4. As a musician, what do you focus on most when judging ‘Mr. Trot 2’?
I think it's scalability. Singers such as Lim Young-woong, Young Tak, Kim Ho-jung, and Jang Min-ho are known and loved through 'Mr. Trot', but when it comes to music, they are now making a wider range of music beyond Trot. It is quite encouraging that the national singers discovered by 'Mr. Trot' are now decorating the music charts, which were previously dominated by idol songs or music from some enthusiast groups, and are leading the older generation as well. I hope that such stars will be born this time again and that a balanced chart will be created with various music that all generations can enjoy, and I believe that 'Mr. Trot 2' will play that role. And we are judging with the hope that singers with such scalability will be born.
5. He is expected to play a role in holding the center of ‘Mr. Trot 2’. When you think about yourself, what are your unique strengths and characteristics as a master?
When judging, there are things that only the ears and eyes of musicians can catch. In fact, these are parts that can be easily overlooked if you are not a musician, but I think that is my role as a person sitting in the master's seat. The strength and uniqueness of my judging is that I use my professional eyes and ears to discover the participants' musical sense and evaluate them while imagining their future development.
6. Is there a participant who impressed you or would you like to especially praise?
I was most interested in the college section, and I also watched the daddy section with interest. And among individuals, freelance announcer Kim Yong-pil is impressive. It's encouraging that he's the oldest among the participants, and I think, 'In the end, people who are so good that they can't refute will survive no matter when they step on stage.' Kim Yong-pil's incredible history, extraordinary vocalization as a former announcer, and voice tone are very attractive. I'm keeping an eye on it.
'Mr. Trot 2 - The Beginning of a New Legend' airs every Thursday at 10 PM.
Taeyuna, Ten Asia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr